Keep all energy options open at climate change talks
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| The world neds all energy options |
Paris, 3 July 2001- Ahead of resumed climate change negotiations, business has called on participating governments to ensure that the full range of energy options is kept open throughout the century to meet the world's needs.
The appeal came from the Energy Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in a letter to Dutch Environment Minister Jan Pronk, President of the next session of the climate change conference, which opens in Bonn on 16 July.
The Commission said it was concerned at proposals that the industrialised countries committed to making cuts in greenhouse gas emissions should refrain from using nuclear facilities to generate emission credits under various flexible mechanisms.
The Bonn negotiations are a resumption of talks in The Hague last November on a detailed agreement on limiting man-made greenhouse gas emissions that participating governments will be willing to ratify. Since the failure in The Hague, the Bush Administration in Washington has decided to abandon the Kyoto accord.
Energy Commission Chairman Juhani Santaholma told Mr Pronk: "The Energy Commission is optimistic that a sustainable energy future is possible in co-operation with the governments and other actors involved.
"Such a future would be impossible without the full range of energy options throughout the century ahead of us."
The ICC commission noted that every aspect of commercial activity could be affected by decisions governments make on measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. "We believe that next steps should take into account bottom line issues of competitiveness, trade, investment and technology innovation."
Recalling that even oil took some 50 years to become a major energy system, the ICC energy experts said there could be no quick transition from existing major energy systems to new ones. "This is why strong research, development and deployment efforts are needed for the introduction of new energy technologies and systems."
The Energy Commission opposed subsidized energy prices, which it said risked sending false signals to consumers. It said voluntary initiatives and agreements were to be preferred over regulation and energy and environment taxes and argued that these distorted and undermined markets.
Full text of Energy Commission letter
Energy Commission statement
Climate change